Music back



Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES IRVING W. GIESE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MUSIC RACK.

Application led August 16, 1926. Serial No. 129,381.

My invention relates to improvements in music racks, and has more particular reference to music racks such as are commonly provided on pianos.

One object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary music rack of new and improved consrtuction which may be moved downinto position over the vpiano keyboard so as to assist children and near-sighted persons in reading the music placed upon the rack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a musicrack which is hinged to the ordinary rack of a piano in such a way that it will be concealed behind the ordinary rack when not in use. The invention is particularly adapted for use on grand pianos wherein the ordinary music rack is usually hinged at its lower edge to a slidable carriage which may be moved back and forth on the piano frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in connection l with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a grand piano equipped with a music rack embodying the features of the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 lare side views of the piano showing the music rack and its mounting in vert-ical section.

Figs. l and 5 are fragmentary views showing details of thehinge employed in carrying out my invention.

While 1 have `shown in the drawings, and will herein describe, the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend thereby to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. f

Referring` now to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 represents the frame of a grand piano supported in the usual way by legs 11. The frame includes two side walls 12 between which eX- tends a keyboard 18. Slidably mounted upon the piano frame behind and substantially above the keyboard is a carriage hercin shown as comprising two spaced parallel cross pieces 15 and 16 suitably connected at their opposite ends.

The ordinary music rack for the piano comprises a flat board 17 pivotally mounted at its lower edge on the front cross piece 15.

For this purpose, hinges 18 are fastened on the cross piece 15 at its rear edge and are secured to the front face of the board 17 a short distance abovev its lower edge. Thus, the rear movement of the rack will be limited by the rear edge of the cross piece 15 when the rack is swung back into normal supporting 'position as shown in Fig. 3. l/Vhen it is desired to close the piano, the rack 17 may be swung down upon the frame as shown `in Fig. 2.

The auxiliary rack which constitutes an important part of the present invention, coinprises a board 19 hinged at one edge tothe tree edge of the rack 17 and provided at its opposite edge with a ing sheets of music. Preferably a double hinge construction of the type shown ,in Figs. 4land is employed for mounting the rack 19. This hinge comprises two end members 21 and 22' having eyes 23 spaced apart so as to receive eyes 24': on opposite ends of an intermediate member 25, the three members being united in the usual way by pintles 26. ln the present instance, the hinge member 21 is secured to the upper edge of the rack 17 so flange 20 for supporty that the member 25 will have a limited movement in a clockwise direction due to engagement with the member 21 (Fig. l). The member 22 is secured to the rear face of the board 19 and its movement in a clockwise direction is limited by lugs 27 i engage the member 25 (Fig. 4).

When it is desired to use the auxiliary rack for supporting music, the rack 17 is swung downwardly upon the piano frame as shown in Fig 2. Then, the auxiliary rack 19 is swung forwardly and downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2, the hinge members being then in their limiting` positions so as to support the rack. In' this position the rack 19 is disposed directly above the piano keyboard and in front of the part 2O*a which is commonly called the fall board of the piano and which defines a vertical wall along the rear edge of the keyboard 18. Thus, the music rack may he supported relatively close to the pianist and its lower edge will be disposed at such height above the keyboard as to permit convenient manipulation of the keys.

When the rack 17 is to befused for supporting music, the rack 19 is swung backwardly into the position shown in F 3, the flanged edge being then disposed in the space between the cross pieces 15 and 16. 1n this position positioned to the auxiliary rack will be concealed behind the rack 17.

It will be apparent that the music rack thus provided will materially aid children and near-sighted persons in reading the music. The rack is simple and inexpensive in construction, and neat and artistic in appearance.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a grand piano, of a carriage slidably mounted on the piano frame, a board hinged to said ycarriage and constituting a music rack, and an auxiliary music rack hinged to the free edge of said board and adapted to be swung downwardly into position above the piano keyboard so as to constitute a secondary support for music.

2. The combination with a grand piano, of a carriage mounted to slide back and forth on the piano frame, said carriage having two parallel cross pieces, a board hinged 'to the forward cross piece and constituting a music rack, a second board hinged to the free edge 'of said first mentioned board and constituting an auxiliary music support, the free end of said second board being adapted to project `into the space between said cross pieces when said first mentioned music rack is in use.

3. The combination with a grand piano, having a frame, of a board pivotally mounted on said frame and constituting a support for music when in upright position, an auxiliary music rack hinged on said board and arranged to be swung downwardly into position above the piano keyboard for supporting music thereon, said auxiliary rack being swung rearwardly and concealed behind said board while the board is being used for supporting the music. y

4.-. The combination with a piano having a music rack hinged thereto, of an auxiliary music rack hinged to said iirst mentioned rack and arranged to be swung downwardly into posit-ion above the piano keyboard to provlde a secondary support for music.

5. The combination with a music rack, an auxiliary music supporting rack having a double hinge connection with said iirst mentioned rack.

6. The combination with a swin gable music rack, ofan auxiliary music rack, and a hinge connecting said racks, said hinge comprising three members linked together, one of the end member of said hinge being secured to each of said rack.

7. v The combination with a music rack, of a member pivot-ally connected to said rack and constituting an auxiliary support for music, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said member inone direction.

8. The, combination with a music rack, of an auxiliary music rack, and a double hinge connecting said racks, said hinge comprising three members linked together, and means for limiting the movement of each end member of the hinge relative to the intermediate member of the hinge.

9. The combination with a grand piano, of an auxiliary music rack pivotally mounted on the piano and adapted to be swung forwardly and downwardly into music supporting position so as to overlie the piano keyboard.

10. An auxiliary music supporting rack for a piano adapted to be secured to the ordinary rack provided on the piano and comprising a rectangular shaped member having a ledge for supporting` music formed along one of its longitudinal edges, saidy member having means secured along its other longitudinal edge and adapted for attachment to said ordinary music rack so as to be supported by said last mentioned rack.

1l. An auxiliary music supporting rack for a piano having a horizontal keyboardy and a fall board deinining a vertical wall along the rear edge of said keyboard comprising, in combin ation, a substantially flat member having a music supporting ledge, and means swingably supporting said member on the piano in inclined position directly above said keyboard and in front of said fall board with said ledge disposed at such a distance above said keyboard as to allow for manipulation of the keys thereof.

12. An auxiliary music supporting rack for a piano having a horizontal keyboard and a fall board deiining a vertical wall along the rear edge of said keyboard comprising, in combination, a substantially Hat member having a music supporting ledge and means for supporting said member in inclined position directly above said keyboard and in frontfof said fall board with said ledge disposed at such a distance above said keyboard as to allow for manipulation of the keys thereof.

1n testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflfixed my signature.

IRVING W. GIESE. 

